How To Use Cat Doors

Insulated Cedar Outdoor Cat Houses

How To Use Cat Doors

One of the main differences between cats and dogs is that cats like to go out of the house on their own and do some exploring. If you have a cat at home, you should install cat doors in strategic places in the house to allow your cat to go outdoors every now and then. After installing cat doors in your home, train your cat to use these doors to go outside and then come back inside the house.

Every cat is different, learning how to use cat doors may be very easy for your cat, or very difficult. There are cats that refuse to use cat doors for real or imaginary reasons. Here are some tips that will allow you to make the idea more acceptable to your cat.

Show It How It’s Used

Right after having the cat doors installed, show your cat where they are. Gently put your cat in front of the cat door and hold it with one hand, then use the other hand to push the door so that the cat can see that it leads outside. Your cat might not want to go outside or might not want to use the door. While still holding the door open, gently make your cat go through the door with the other hand. Another thing you can try is placing something the cat likes on the other side of the door.

It may take a while before your cat gets used to the idea of using the cat doors instead of the kitchen door to get out. Your cat may continue coming to you every time it wants to go out because it knows you can open the kitchen door. To train your cat to use the cat doors in the house, do not open the kitchen door to let him out. Instead, take the cat to the cat door again, open it for the cat and, if it doesn’t go out on its own, push it gently. You will need patience and keep repeating this until the cat understands that the kitchen door is not a way to go out anymore.

Safety Precautions

Before allowing the cat to go out, make sure that it’s wearing a collar. A collar with your contact information will allow people to return the cat to you if they find it.

Always make sure that the doors are free of obstacles so that the cat or the collar doesn’t get stuck. Do not put any heavy objects near cat doors and if you have kids in the house, tell your kids to keep their toys away from the doors.

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